Clasp for bracelets or the like



Dec; 25, 1e2s.-

j v I I c. H. BATCHELDER cmsP FOR BRACELETS on THE LIKE Filed Feb. 8, 1927 Mum m? Mar/w flflaice/Jer 5r M ge 044M K;

Patented Dec. 25, 1928.

CHARLES H. BATCHELDER, OF NORTH ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS.

CLASP FOR BRACELETS OR THE LIKE.

Application filed February My invention is a novel click or clasp for chain bracelets, necklaces or the like; also a novel spring'for use in such a clasp; also a detent element for such a clasp, in which the parts may be assembled without riveting or solder, andretained securely in their several designed positions.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clasp;

Figure 2 is a plan View of a clasp;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the detent element of a claspt Figure 4 is a side view of the hook element of Figure 2;

.Figure 5 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the detent element shown in Figure 3, the top plate being removed and the aperture dotted in;

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective detail on an en larged scale of the spring shown in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the detent, showing the body, tang and finger piece:

Figure 9 is a side view of Figure 3.

The connection of the ends of chain or flexible bracelets and necklaces has hitherto been a source of some trouble to the user, the click or clasp being relatively light and unstable, so that the wearer, in securing the two parts of the clasp of a bracelet, for example, passed about the wrist, could noteasily, with one hand, bring the two parts of the click into locked engagement. A common form of click or clasp as heretofore used was a bolt on one end of the chain extending in the direction of the length of the chain, which entered an aperture in the end of the opposed member of the. click or clasp and was then in some manner engaged. The engagement of the two'parts of the clasp was more or less difiicult, owing to the fact that the opposed member was free to move and did move usually, during the attempt to enter the bolt into the other member of the clasp, frequently causing the free end of the bracelet to slip ofl the wrist. The same result occurred in cases where the engaging element was inserted into the opposed element from the side or sides.

It is an object of my invention to provide a clasp in which the force of the entry of the engaging half of the clasp is utilized to 8, 1927. Serial No. 166,776.

steady and hold the other half of the clasp from movement.

It is an objectalso to provide a .novel flat wire'spring which will retain its integrity indefinitely, having no loops or other marked distortions tending toweaken the wire.

It is an object, also to provide a novel click assembly by which the engaging jaw of the click may be movablymounted within a casing and secured against escape therefrom, without solder or riveting in a very cheap and eflicient fashion.

In a chain bracelet or necklace, each link has upon the outer surface an ornamental face, the under part of each link having a box-like frame portion, giving a certain thickness to the link. In my new clasp or click one end member or clasp element is made up of an ordinary link, to one end of which, and extending longitudinally of the chain, is secured a link face plate, carrying upon its under surface, adjacentthe free end thereof, a depending hook. The opposed member of the clasp is in effect a box link, without any face plate. In the upper surface of this member is an aperture, in size and shape adapted to pass the hook upon the other member. WVithin the inner space of the clasp element is mounted a spring pressed detent member, which, when the hook is passed through the aperture is pressed back to permit it to enter and then springs forward behind the hooked end and holds it in place.

The details of construction of the hook element and of the detent element are spe cifically new and are of importance in produeing a successful and useful clasp and will now be described. v V

The hook clasp element made-up of a double link, one end 1 being the ordinary link of the particular chain-and the other end 2, being the face plate of an ordinary link. The part 2 carries a hook 3 preferably shaped substantially as shown in the drawings (see Figure l) the back ofthe hook being tapered off to form a wedge and hav; ing at the upper side a flat portion 4 to engage one edge of the aperture in the other clasp element. The wedge portion of the hook 3 is employed to wedge back the spring pressed detent 9, when thehook 3 is passed into the opposed clasp element through an aperture 8 in clasp 7, the ta ered surface of the hook cooperating wit the opposed having, in its upper wall the aperture 8 and, withinthe box, the detent 9 and spring 10. The detent 9 is preferably shaped as indicated in Figure 8, and has a tang 11 at one end of the body 9 and a finger piece 12 at the other end of the body 9. In the sides of the frame 7 is a slot l t and an aperture 15. The detent 9 passed through slot 14 and the tank 11 is inserted in aperture 15, the fingerpiece 12 remaining on the outside of the box 7. The slot 14. has a wide part and a narrow part, the detent being passed through the wide part and the finger piece 12 then moved along the narrow part of the slot, against the resistance ot spring 10. A small projection 16 on frame 7 is then bent down behind the finger piece, so that it cannot return to the wide partof slot let. It will now be clear that, the body 9 of the detent being too wide to pass through the narrow portion of tlieslotlet, the detent 9 will be incapable of longitudinal movement, but capable of a limited transverse movement, against the force 01 spring 10, pivoting ontang ll seated in aperture 15. 'lhismethod or making and organi'liing the detent with the frame or box is very simple, very cheap and very durable and efficient. It requires no rivet, nor solder. It can be effected by unskilled labor. At one side of the detent 9, within the frame-box 7 is a spring 10 of zig-zag shape, preferably of bronze material, which does not rustand, due to its novel shape the spring doesnot break in service. This Zigzag fiat springlying all in one plane is a preferred and important element of my device, since it desirable in such a part as the clasp element to limit; its thickness while providing an easily flexible and a resilient spring, whiclrrequires a spring of some length, making for ilexibilitz, and distributing the strains of distortion so that there are no points in its length where the metal isor has been put under undue stress. This spring 10 is formed of a length of tempered wire. bent in a series of U shaped bends to form several sections lying in one plane.

The operation is as follows: The bracelet (for example), placed about the wr the clasp element 7 being laid with the aperture 8 upward. The other end 2 of the bracelet is then carried over the element T (see Figures 2 and 3) and the hook member 3 is passed into the aperture 8 and pressed down, forcing dctent. E) to one side against the resistance of the zigzag spring 10, until the ridge 6 on hook it passes the dctenl, which is immediately forced in behind ridge (3 by the zig-rzag spring 10. It will be obvious that in this action no horizontal or transverse force is applied to the member 7 lying upon the wrist, tending to displace it or overcome its inertia. It will also be noticed that the moment the narrow tree end of book 3 is passed slightly into the aperture 8 the part- 7 is in eli'ect engaged and cannot slip or slide in any detrimental manner, because it will be caught by the hook engaging the edge of aperture Finally, it will be observed that the pressure necessary to spring the detent is resisted by the wrist, since the push is down. The disengagement effected by operating the finger piece 12 to disengage the detent 9 from the hook 3 and lifting oll' plate 2.

I have indicated in the drawings, apart 1? for connecting a link with an adjacent link. l

I claim:

1. In a chain bracelet or neck chain, or the like, a clasp made up of cooperating end members, one member made up of a face plate of another, from which face plate a hook depends, the said other member comprising a box element having an opening in itsupper outer wall to receive the hook and means to detachably secure the hook against; accidental return movement. of the hook.

2. In a chain bracelet or neck chain, or

the like, a detent clasp element, having; sidewalls, a slot of two widths in one side \flll and a flexible integral projection upon the wall adjacent the wide and narrow portions of the slot, a perforation in the other side wallopposite the slot; a spring pressed detent. lnn'ing a relatively thick body portion, a shouldered tang at one end and a relatively thin linger piece at the opposite end, the body portion passing through the cnlarged portion of the Plot to seal the tang in the perforation. the linger piece passing along the narrow portionof the slot and the integral projection being bent down behind' the linger piece to prevent its return to the wide portion of the slot and any longitudinal moremei'it of the detent.

Signed at North Attlcboro. illassaclmsclls, this third day of Fclgn'uary, 1997.

GHA RLES H. BA'ICHELDER. 

